§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for 1981, and to the latest available date, the total expenditure by his Department on measures specifically related to the International Year of Disabled People; what financial provision has been made for further measures to assist disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenI refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today.
Most of the cost of projects undertaken by the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments in 1981 for the International Year of Disabled People was met from planned expenditure for the disabled, but over £50,000 was spent in addition to planned expenditure.
The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments will continue to provide for further measures 229W within planned expenditure for the disabled, but it is not practicable to calculate the total amount. In June 1982, as a follow-up to the International Year of Disabled People, the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland announced that an additional £100,000 would be spent on special initiatives for the disabled over a four-year period.